This is the story of Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre-Dame, and his tragic love for Esmeralda, the beautiful gypsy woman. It is a tale of love doomed by injustice and hypocrisy. Quasimodo, watching the world from the spires of Notre-Dame, has fallen in love with Esmeralda, who sings and dances in the square in front of the great cathedral. But Esmeralda loves Phoebus, the handsome captain of the King's cavalry. Phoebus is engaged to Fleur-de-Lys, a young wealthy socialite, but is soon captivated by the exotic sensuality of the gypsy girl. Adding to this complicated emotional web is the lust Esmeralda inspires in the priest, Frollo. It is Frollo who enslaved Quasimodo and kept him in the cathedral. The priest's repressed carnal desires and jealousy lead him to stab Phoebus in order to get rid of his rival. Esmeralda herself is falsely accused of the attempted murder and flung in jail. Frollo takes advantage of Esmeralda's plight and offers her freedom in return for sexual favours. She refuses and, enraged, he plots his revenge. |
|||||
|
|
|||||
 |